Bill Pearson (New Zealand writer)
Encyclopedia
Bill Pearson was a New Zealand
fiction writer, essayist and critic. Born in Greymouth
he completed an B.A. in English at the Canterbury University College
and trained as a teacher. He taught briefly at Blackball
Primary School in 1942 and drew on these experiences to write a novel entitled "Coal Flat" which was published in 1963.
After completing an M.A., Pearson travelled to London in 1949 to begin a PhD at the University of London
. On completion of his PhD in 1952 he returned to New Zealand, teaching in the English Department at the Auckland University College
from 1959 until his retirement in 1986. His collected essays and reviews on New Zealand literature and society were published in "Fretful Sleepers and Other Essays" in 1974.
Pearson had a close relationship with the Māori university community during his tenure at the University of Auckland.
Pearson was a closeted
gay man for much of his life as homosexuality was illegal in New Zealand until 1986.
A well-reviewed biography, entitled "No Fretful Sleeper: A Life of Bill Pearson" by academic Paul Millar, was published in 2010.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
fiction writer, essayist and critic. Born in Greymouth
Greymouth
Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coast's inhabitants...
he completed an B.A. in English at the Canterbury University College
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
and trained as a teacher. He taught briefly at Blackball
Blackball, New Zealand
Blackball is a small town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, approximately 29 km from Greymouth.Blackball was named after the Black Ball Shipping Line, which leased land in the area to mine for coal. It was formerly known as Joliffetown and Moonlight Gully.Blackball is a centre...
Primary School in 1942 and drew on these experiences to write a novel entitled "Coal Flat" which was published in 1963.
After completing an M.A., Pearson travelled to London in 1949 to begin a PhD at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. On completion of his PhD in 1952 he returned to New Zealand, teaching in the English Department at the Auckland University College
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
from 1959 until his retirement in 1986. His collected essays and reviews on New Zealand literature and society were published in "Fretful Sleepers and Other Essays" in 1974.
Pearson had a close relationship with the Māori university community during his tenure at the University of Auckland.
Pearson was a closeted
Closeted
Closeted and in the closet are metaphors used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and intersex people who have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity and aspects thereof, including sexual identity and sexual behavior.-Background:In late 20th...
gay man for much of his life as homosexuality was illegal in New Zealand until 1986.
A well-reviewed biography, entitled "No Fretful Sleeper: A Life of Bill Pearson" by academic Paul Millar, was published in 2010.
Works
- Coal Flat 1963, full text at the NZETC
- Fretful Sleepers and Other Essays 1974, full text at the NZETC
External links
- http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/pearsonbill.html
- http://web.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/aup/book/2010/millar-no-fretful-sleeper.cfm